WT/MIN(22)/ST/68  
12 June 2022 
(22-4505) Page: 1/1 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. JÁN ORAVEC  
STATE SECRETARY  
SLOVAK REPUBLIC  
The Slovak Republic is willing to express its sincere gratitude to the host for organizing of the 
12th Ministerial Conference in current challenged global environment.  
 
Slovakia, as an open and export -oriented economy, has been traditionally supporting the 
rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO as its main pillar. But the world has changed 
considerably since the WTO´s creation. The world has ch anged, and so should the WTO.  
 
This organisation has already proved its own relevance many times. Stable, predictable and 
transparent multilateral trading system based on three pillars – negotiations; implementation and 
monitoring; as well as dispute settl ement - has always played an instrumental role.  
 
Currently there are significant problems in all three pillars. The WTO negotiations have not improved 
the existing rules and have not brought additional market access. In the implementation and 
monitoring pi llar Members often do not fulfil their commitments, or even ignore existing 
requirements. And the third pillar - the dispute settlement system - is literally inoperative; 
unblocking the current impasse is one of our main goals. Having a fully and well -functioning dispute 
settlement system accessible to all Members by MC13 should be one of the priority for us.  
 
In other words, the WTO is in crises and a momentum for ambitious reform has to be built before 
the system loses its relevance. For this reason, we f ully support launching of the WTO reform 
process.  
 
In this regard the Slovak Republic reiterates importance of solving another important issue – the 
emerging developing countries graduation. Emerging economies are still keeping their right to 
self-declare as a "developing country ". Avoiding taking the same level of commitments in comparison 
to Slovakia creates rather unbalanced and unfair situation. Some of these economies are still 
benefiting from the special and differential treatment commitments despite the fact they have much 
higher per capita income. For this reason, we would like to have also this issue included into the 
WTO reform agenda.  
 
The Slovak Republic underlines its support and solidarity with the people of Ukraine in these difficult 
times. This unprovoked and unjustified attack has serious impact also on the WTO agenda, mainly 
on trade with agricultural commodities. For this reason, we need to find a multilateral solution on 
the trade and food security.  
 
The outcomes of this ministeri al conference should also address other global trade challenges - the 
WTO response to COVID -19 pandemic, fisheries subsidies and e -commerce. We do expect that all 
WTO Members will make a constructive contribution to these outcomes, according to their needs  
and capacities.  
 
The Slovak Republic is ready for a successful and constructive debates during the conference with 
an active and constructive participation from all WTO Members. We need to adjust the WTO for 
challenges and realities of the 21st century.  
 
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